Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci.

Abiotic Status of River Jhelum with Special Reference to its Ichthyofaunal Diversity

Jan R. 1, Gupta R. 1, Najar M.A. 2 and Zuber S.M. 2 1Deptartment of Life Science, Dr. C.V. Raman University, Chattisgarh, 2Department of Zoology, Govt. Degree College (Boys) , , INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 4th September 2015, revised 21 st September 2015, accepted 23rd September 2015

Abstract During the course of present study, the abiotic factors investigated recorded remarkable variation at each of the three study sites. While pH, NO 3-N, Total Dissolved Solids, BOD and COD recorded increasing values towards the downstream sections of the river, DO, Ca and alkalinity recorded decreasing values towards the downstream areas of the river. A total of seven species belonging to two families Cyprinidae and Salmonidae were collected. While Cyprinidae is represented by five species viz., Schizothorax plagiostomus, S. curvifrons, S. esocinus, S. labiatus and Cyprinus carpio, the Salmonidae family is represented by only two species, Salmo trutta fario and Salmo gairdneri. While Schizothoracines dominated at sites II and III, Salmonids were found in abundance at site I. In this lotic system, the diversity and distribution of fishes were uneven. The un-even distribution and diversity may be due to changing water quality status.

Keywords: River Jhelum, physico-chemical parameters, fish fauna.

Introduction Material and Methods Water, elixir of life, serves as a resource and a valuable habitat River Jhelum also known as Vyeth or Vitasta, originates from for varied groups of organisms 1. Although water constitutes a spring in the South-eastern part of the valley. The river greater bulk of the protoplasm, yet due to increasing Jhelum is considered as the life line of Kashmir as it flows from anthropogenic intervention besides some natural processes, the South to North and fulfills the requirements of about 25% of the water quality is deteriorating day by day, which has severely population of the valley. River Jhelum is the second largest affected the indwelling aquatic fauna. fisheries resource of the valley after Wullar Lake as it harbours a wide variety fish fauna. During the last few decades, dense Kashmir in the North western is blessed with a large human settlements, industries and other commercial number of natural inland water resources having good establishments along the river banks and its surrounding areas productivity status as they provide safe niches to various have evolved, as a result of which large amounts of untreated organisms like protozoans, macro- and micro- zoobenthos, sewage and effluents gets discharged into the river. The invertebrates and vertebrates. Of all the aquatic ecosystems of excessive encroachment has depleted the water quality which the valley, River Jhelum is one of the major riverine systems subsequently poses health hazards among its stakeholders. which originate from a beautiful octagonal spring called Verinag situated in the foothills of mighty Pir -Panjal ranges. In order to conduct the present study, three study sites were River Jhelum, the life line of Kashmir, traverses about 177kms selected along the Jhelum namely Verinag, Sangam and Pantha in the valley during which it receives waters from an extensive Chowk. The site-I located in the foothills of Pir Panjal range network of canals and streams. On its way it receives enormous about 26kms away from Anantnag town is famous for an amounts of sewage, faecal matter, run off from the agricultural octagonal verinag spring where water is very much pure and it fields, effluents from the small scale industries, encroachment appears blue in color. Site-II is located on Anantnag- etc. which depletes its water quality status. The physico- Highway about 50.8kms from Site–I. Most of the tributaries chemical parameters of River Jhelum varies from one region to namely Lidder, Rambiara, Vaishav, Watlab and Arapal merge another which in turn affects the variety and distribution of into the river Jhelum at this site hence the name Sangam. The Ichthyofauna present in it. The river Jhelum, under the merging of various tributaries of Jhelum at this site affects the conditions of encroachment, pollution and industrialization have abiotic parameters of water and also its aquatic fauna. Site-III is reduced basin which subsequently influences the distribution located in District Srinagar about 80kms from site-I and about and density of Ichthyofauna as well. So present study has been 30kms from site-II. The velocity of water is comparatively undertaken to monitor the water quality and ichthyofauna of slower and the bottom sediments include sand and silt only. At River Jhelum. this site, River Jhelum experiences heavy domestic, industrial and commercial intervention. The entire population of the area

International Science Congress Association 9 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. depends on it for irrigation, drinking and washing purposes but (Verinag) to site-III (Pantha-chowk). Likewise the NO 3-N in turn dump heavy loads of sewage, run-off and effluent into (Nitrate-nitrogen) content of river Jhelum shows an increasing the river. trend in the downstream sections. Maximum values were observed at Pantha-chowk but with an increase in temperature, The physico-chemical characters and ichthyofauna of the river the concentration of NO 3-N also increased and the same has Jhelum has been assessed by following standard methods been observed in the month of May. Calcium an essential component for the structural and functional integrity of cell Physico-chemical analysis of Water: On monthly basis, water membrane 6,7 , recorded a decrease in its concentration from site-I samples were collected from all the three sampling sites/ to site-III. During present study, the values of Total Dissolved stations along the banks of river Jhelum. Sampling was done Solids (TDS) show an increasing trend towards the downstream mostly in the first week of each month, from December 2014 to sections of river with maximum values at Pantha-chowk. At all May 2015. While temperature was recorded on the spot at the sites the content of TDS increased from Dec. to May. The time of sampling, other parameters such as pH, total alkalinity, concentration of Dissolved oxygen (DO) recorded a decreasing BOD, COD, DO and total dissolved solids were estimated in the trend from upstream towards the downstream sections of the laboratory (PHE Techno-Lab ) while following standard river with maximum value at Verinag. However at all the methodology 2 for which water samples were collected in sampling stations the amount of DO was observed to be higher polythene bottles between 8 am to 10 am from each sampling in the month of January and the reason can be due to heavy station. snow and rainfall that the valley receives during winter. BOD is linked directly with the decomposition of dead organic matter, Collection of Fishes (Ichthyofauna): Fish fauna of the River hence higher values of BOD can be directly related with the Jhelum was monthly collected from each of the three sampling pollution status of the River 8. Moreover, BOD has been stations. The fishes were collected with the help of local considered as an important pollutant causing low dissolved fisherman by using nets (Cast and Dip net) for fishing. oxygen concentrations 9. During present investigation, the BOD Sampling was mostly done in morning hour. Fish samples were concentration recorded increasing trend from site-I to site-III then preserved in a solution of formalin. Fishes less than 10 cm with minimum value at Verinag and maximum value at Pantha- were immersed in a formalin solution without any incision, chowk. Likewise a sharp increase has been observed in COD while fishes 10 - 30 cm in length were given a narrow cut one concentration also from Verinag to Pantha-chowk where it side of mid ventral line ventrally through abdominal wall. reached maximum. Present study also revealed that maxima of Fishes longer than 30 cm were injected with undiluted COD were observed in spring season and the same might be due concentrated formalin in several places and the belly was to increased water temperature which enhances the rate of incised at two or three places. Then the samples from each decomposition of organic matter. station were packed separately with appropriate labels indicating the date, time and locality. Finally the specimens Present investigation reveals that the water of River Jhelum at were taxonomically identified on the basis of morphometric Verinag is alkaline but it turns acidic at Pantha-chowk and this characters using the standard taxonomic keys 3. can be attributed to the fact that as the water of the river runs downstream, it receives influx of untreated sewage and other Results and Discussion organic and inorganic wastes. However in May, the pH of the water becomes alkaline in comparison to other months as with The results obtained from the present study are discussed under an increase in ambient temperature there is increase in the rate following headings: of photosynthesis and also the discharge of water from the spring. Likewise the values of alkalinity decreases in the Physico-chemical analysis of water: The physico-chemical downstream sections of River, which may be due to the characteristics of River Jhelum record remarkable variations and increasing turbidity, which occurs because of influx of sewage the same is reflected by the tables 1-3. The air and water and other suspended matter into the river. Hence the value of temperature recorded minor variations at each of the three study alkalinity is seen more at Verinag as that of Sangam and Pantha- sites and that water temperature closely followed air Chowk because of less turbidity of water there. As per this temperature. pH a measure of the acidity of the water, recorded investigation , the values of nitrate gets increased in the decreasing trend from Verinag to Pantha-chowk. At all the study downstream portions of River Jhelum and the same could be stations the values of pH were higher in May due to an increase due to allochthonous supply of nitrite rich materials and in ambient temperature and as a result of which rate of enhanced decomposition rate. The concentration of nitrate- photosynthesis increases. pH recorded a tilt from alkaline to nitrogen beyond 0.15 mg/l is an indicative of eutrophication 10 . acidic side as the water flows from Verinag towards the Pantha And the same observation therefore places downstream portions Chowk. Alkalinity, a measure of weak acid present in water is of River Jhelum in eutrophic category. TDS values record 4,5 usually due to the bicarbonate ion content of water . At all the increase in concentration towards the downstream portions of three sites, water has been observed to be alkaline, however the the river during present study and the same could be attributed values of alkalinity recorded a decreasing trend from site-I to the heavy rains and floods of Kashmir that severely affect

International Science Congress Association 10 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. these portions of the study sites (September, 2014) and also due load of the river. All these activities lead to deterioration of to numerous anthropogenic activities because of heavy tourist water quality in the lower sections of river. inflow in the valley besides dumping of sewage into the river by human settlements and municipalities. The concentration of DO Ichthyofauna of River Jhelum: During the course of present declines towards the downstream area and the same may be study, a total of seven species, belonging to two families because of increasing amount of untreated sewage and overload Cyprinidae and Salmonidae were encountered at three different of anthropogenic activities. Moreover the concentration of BOD sites from river Jhelum (table-4). Fish species abundance and increased towards the downstream sections of the river and the distribution appear to be determined by water quality and food same may be attributed to the increased turbidity, nutrient load availability factors. In the present study, water parameters were and sewage enrichment of rivers. Since is found to greatly influence ichthyofaunal distribution at each of annually visited by large number of tourists due to its scenic the three study sites. S. plagiostomous, S. esocinus and S. beauty, especially in the spring and summer, there is greater curvifrons were the main component of ichthyofauna of River generation of wastes which are directly or indirectly being Jhelum at Sites-II and III (Sangam and Pantha-Chowk) besides dumped into the river hence the BOD values shows an increase these, S. labiatus and Cyprinus carpio were also present at these in the downstream sections of the river. Likewise COD values sites. At Site-I (Verinag), Salmo trutta fario and S almo increased from upstream portion towards the downstream gairdneri were present in large proportion (Tables 5 and 6). At sections and the same could be attributed to the fact that as the Site-II and Site-III, on the whole Schizothoracinae contributed water flows downwards, it receives large amount of untreated about 95-96% of the total fish catch, while as at Site-I, Trout sewage and effluents from domestic and commercial species ( Salmo trutta fario and Salmo gairdneri ) dominated the establishments. Hence down the river, the water quality gets total fish catch at this site (93%). The present study reveals that deteriorated which greatly influences its aquatic biota. Similar the distribution of fishes is directly related to the physico- increase in COD has also been recorded in the lotic systems of chemical conditions like pH, alkalinity, DO, TDS, BOD etc. Kashmir 11 . Trout species ( Salmo trutta fario and Salmo gairdneri ) have been found to be present at Site-I where water is cold, well From the above observations, it is clear that the physico- oxygenated and unpolluted. Areas (Site-II and Site-III) with chemical characteristics of River Jhelum like pH, TDS, DO etc more pollution load have communities dominated by tolerant in the upstream portion of river were comparatively higher than species ( Schizothorax species ). Similar results on distribution that of lower stream sections of river which indicates that pattern of ichthyofauna and their association with environmental household wastes and garbage, untreated sewage, effluents from factors in Mokau River 12 . small scale industries and agricultural runoff add to the nutrient

Table-1 Monthly Variations of various abiotic parameters at Site-I of River Jhelum

Temperature (˚C) Total No -N Calcium TDS DO BOD COD Month pH Alkalinity 3 (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/L) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) Air Water (mg/l)

December 6 8 7.2 200 0.01 35 120.10 12 3.08 23.30

January 5 8 7.3 220 0.01 39 123.70 12.5 3.11 23.50

February 3 9 7.5 230 0.03 47 127.30 12 3.40 23.75

March 5 8 7.3 255.20 0.03 40 127.90 11 3.67 24.10

April 11 7 7.3 278.30 0.05 47 129.60 10 3.81 24.33

May 15 10 7.7 310.10 0.06 52 130.45 10 3.83 24.90

Mean 7.5 8.34 7.39 248.94 0.031 43.34 126.50 11.25 3.49 23.98

International Science Congress Association 11 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci.

Table-2 Monthly Variations of Various abiotic Parameters at Site-II of River Jhelum Temperature (˚C) Total NO -N Calcium TDS DO BOD COD Month pH Alkalinity 3 (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) Air Water (mg/l) December 6 6 7.1 85.33 0.16 18 165.15 9.05 4.61 34.60

January 7 3 7.3 93.30 0.19 25 186.24 9.10 4.91 36.75

February 4 0 7.4 105.40 0.23 29 217.10 8.6 5.12 39.71

March 9 11 7.2 116.60 0.23 20 247.10 7.5 5.65 42.10

April 11 12.5 7.0 157.50 0.25 28 270.90 7.0 5.75 45.38

May 15.5 14.5 7.6 165.10 0.26 35 273.30 7.0 5.84 45.68

Mean 8.75 7.84 7.27 120.54 0.22 25.84 226.64 8.04 5.32 40.70

Table-3 Monthly variations of various abiotic parameters at Site-III of River Jhelum Temperature (˚C) Total No -N Calcium TDS DO BOD COD Month pH Alkalinity 3 (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) Air Water (mg/l) December 8 6 7.0 82.75 0.21 14 172.00 7.8 4.65 35.80

January 7 3 7.3 87.40 0.23 27 197.45 7.12 4.74 37.80

February 3.5 0 7.2 104.00 0.25 32 220.25 7.7 5.40 40.65

March 9 9 7.5 120.45 0.29 20 272.58 7.01 5.75 45.40

April 13 10 7.3 153.20 0.29 18 290.00 6.30 5.82 46.70

May 16 15 8.2 161.30 0.31 23 290.30 6.1 5.97 46.90

Mean 9.41 7.16 7.25 118.19 0.26 22.34 240.43 7.005 5.39 42.21

Table-4 The fish species presently encountered from River Jhelum Kashmir Fish species Local name Schizothorax plagiostomus Heckel 1838 Khont

Schizothorax curvifrons Heckel 1838 Satter gad

Schizothorax esocinus Heckel 1838 Chhurru

Schizothorax labiatus (McClelland 1842) Chush

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758 Panjabe gad

Salmo trutta fario Trout

Salmo gairdneri Rainbow trout

International Science Congress Association 12 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci.

350

300

250

200 December January 150 February March 100 April

50 May Mean 0

Figure-1 Monthly variation of various Physico- Chemical Parameters of River Jhelum At site I (Verinag)

300

250

200 December 150 January

100 Febuary March 50 April May 0 Mean

Figure-2 Monthly variation of various physico-Chemical Parameters of River Jhelum At site II (Sangam)

International Science Congress Association 13 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci.

350 300 250 200 December 150 January 100 February 50 0 March April May Mean

Figure-3 Monthly variation of various physico-Chemical Parameters of River Jhelum At site III (Pantha Chowk)

Table-5 Monthly Fish Catch from River Jhelum, December 2014 - May 2015 Fish Species Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. April May Schizothorax plagiostomus 2 4 5 3 5 3 Schizothorax curvifrons 5 2 4 2 1 2 Schizothorax esocinus 4 3 1 3 2 6 Schizothorax labiatus 3 1 2 0 1 2 Cyprinus carpio 1 0 1 0 0 1 Salmo trutta fario 14 9 7 4 6 6 Salmo gairdneri 11 8 6 6 3 4 Total 40 27 26 18 18 24

Table-6 Contribution of fish by number at different study sites, December 2014-May 2015 Fish species Site-I Site-II Site-III

Schizothorax plagiostomus 2 14 6

Schizothorax curvifrons 0 10 6

Schizothorax esocinus 3 9 7

Schizothorax labiatus 0 8 1

Cyprinus carpio 0 2 1

Salmo trutta fario 45 1 0

Salmo gairdneri 38 0 0

Total 88 44 21

International Science Congress Association 14 Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ______ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(8), 9-15, October (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci.

50 40 30

No. of of No. fishes 20 Site-I 10 Site-II 0 Site-III

Fish Species

Figure-4 Showing Distribution Pattern of Fishes of River Jhelum

Conclusion 4. Dallas F.H. and Day J.A., The effect of water quality variables on Aquatic Ecosystems: Review, Report to the On the basis of the present investigations, it can be conveniently Water Research Commission, WRC Report No., concluded that different physico-chemical parameters of River TT224/04, (2004) Jhelum usually recorded increasing trend with an increase in distance from the source indicating the deterioration of water 5. Zubair S.M. and Ahrar A.H., Characterization of abiotic characteristics due to untreated sewage, effluents and surface status of Lake Mansar at Surinsar, Mansar Ramsar site in run-off, anthropogenic activities in the catchment areas etc. the NW Himalayas, Intl. J. Sci. Tech. Res ., 2(11) , 50-65 Variation in water quality status and the food availability factors (2013) of the river also influences the abundance and distribution of 6. Eppley R.W., Major cations, In : Physiology and fish fauna. During present survey, ichthyofauna of River Jhelum Biochemistry of algae (Lewin, R.A. Ed.), Academic were observed to be comprised of seven species, out of which Press, New York, 255-266 (1962) four belong to Schizothorax species ( S. plagiostomus, S. 7. Epstein E., Mineral metabolism, In : plant Biochemistry curvifrons , S. esocinus and S. labiatus ), one Cyprinus species (Bonner, J. and Varner, J .E. Eds.), Academic press, New (Cyprinus carpio ) and two Trout species ( Salmo trutta fario and York, 438- 466 (1965) Salmo gairdneri ). On the basis of the above mentioned distribution of ichthyofauna, it may be concluded that at Site-I, 8. WQM Report, Annual report on water quality monitoring Trout species were found in large proportion in relation to that of upper and lower lakes of Bhopal, Vol I and II, (1999) of Sites II and III, as these species preferred the cold, well 9. USEPA, Total maximum daily load (TMDL) for oxygenated and pollution free habitat while as at Sites II and III, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand in St. Schizothoracinaes were dominant, as these are tolerant to John River above Sawgrass Lake (WBID 2893X) middle polluted water. From this very survey, it may also be concluded St. Johns River basin, Florida, USEPA region 461 that the water quality status of the river should be monitored Forsyth Street SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303, (2006) regularly in order to preserve this important lotic fish habitat. 10. Ganapati S.V., Ecology of Tropical waters, Proc. Symp. Acknowledgements Algalogy , ICAR New Delhi. 204 – 218, (1960) 11. Lone S.A., Ansari F., Lori S.M. and Zuber S.M., The authors are thankful to incharge PHE Techno Lab Shopian Physicochemical characterization of lotic systems of for providing laboratory facilities. Kashmir: A case study of river Jhelum, Intl. J. Sci. Nat. ,

4(4) , 579-582 (2013) References 12. Hayes J.W., Leathwick J.R. and Hanchet S.M., Fish 1. Wetzel R.G., Limnology, W.B. Sunders Co., Ltd. (1983) distribution patterns and their association with 2. APHA, Standard Methods for Examination of water and environmental factors in the Mokau River catchment, wastewater.20 th Ed. American Health association, New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Washington, D.C. (1998) Freshwater Research , 23, 171-180, 551-559, (2010) 3. Kullander S.O., Fang F., Delling B. and Ahlander E., The Fishes of the Kashmir Valley, In: L. Nyman (ed) River Jhelum, Kashmir Valley, Impact on the aquatic environment, SWEDMAR , Sweden, 100-167, (1999)

International Science Congress Association 15